M56 Eastbound Lanes 2 and 3 closure (MP 22/0 to 20/1)
2 lanes21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026 · 2 lanes closed, Roadworks · 3 separate phases
Roadworks and lane closures
M56
5 closures10 booked5 closures in force on the M56 right now. National Highways has 10 closures booked in the next 24 hours, the first due from 8pm, so it may already be in place. Its slowest recurring hour is Thu 16:00, averaging 21 mph.
Photo: Whatlep, Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0, resizedClosed right now
Closure data updated 34 minutes ago
M56 Westbound Jct 9 exit slip road hardshoulder closure
1 lane20 Oct 2026 to 23 Oct 2026 · Slip road closed, Repair work
M56 Eastbound Jct 6 to 4 hardshoulder closure
1 lane5 Oct 2026 to 11 Nov 2026 · 1 lane closed, Maintenance work · 2 separate phases
M56 Eastbound hardshoulder closure (MP 56/3 to 56/0)
1 lane6 Jan 2026 to 8 Jan 2027 · 1 lane closed, Repair work
M56 Eastbound Jct 16 entry slip road closure
21 Oct 2026 to 22 Oct 2026 · Slip road closed, Roadworks
Booked for today and tonight
Next 24 hours, UK timeM56 Westbound Jct 12 entry slip road Lane 1 closure
Due now- What
- 1 lane of the slip road closed
- Why
- Maintenance work
- When
- 8pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place
M56 Eastbound Lanes 2 and 3 closure (MP 22/0 to 20/1)
Due now- What
- 2 lanes closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place
M56 eastbound hard shoulder and lanes 1 and 2 closure (MP 24/4 to 20/5)
Due now- What
- 2 lanes closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place
A556 Northbound Lane 2 closure with switching (MP 5/7 to 17/0)
Due now- What
- 1 lane closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm yesterday to 6am today (UK time)
Start time has passed, so it may already be in place
M56 Eastbound Jct 7 entry slip road closure
Booked- What
- Slip road closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)
A556 Northbound to M56 Eastbound link road closure
Booked- What
- Link road closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)
M56 eastbound hard shoulder and lanes 1 and 2 closure (MP 24/4 to 20/5)
Booked- What
- 2 lanes closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm tonight to 6am tomorrow (UK time)
M53 Northbound to M56 Eastbound link road closure
Booked- What
- Link road closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm tonight to 5am tomorrow (UK time)
M53 Southbound to M56 Eastbound link road closure
Booked- What
- Link road closed
- Why
- Roadworks
- When
- 9pm tonight to 5am tomorrow (UK time)
M56 Eastbound lanes 2 and 3 closure (MP 44/5 to 38/3)
Booked- What
- 2 lanes closed
- Why
- Construction work
- When
- 10pm tonight to 5am tomorrow (UK time)
These are closures National Highways has scheduled, mostly overnight. Plans can change on the night, and a closure only shows above as in force once our last check has seen it set up, so one that has passed its start time may already be in place.
Long-running roadworks on the M56
Lasting a week or more, soonest to end firstM56 Eastbound Jct 6 to 4 hardshoulder closure
in force- Due to end
- 11 Nov 2026
- Started
- 5 Oct 2026
- What
- 1 lane closed, Maintenance work
M56 Eastbound hardshoulder closure (MP 56/3 to 56/0)
in force- Due to end
- 8 Jan 2027
- Started
- 6 Jan 2026
- What
- 1 lane closed, Repair work
End dates are National Highways’ own schedule and can move. Long-running roadworks on every road.
When the M56 is slowest
1 May 2026 to 15 June 2026Thu 16:0021mph
Measured about 200 m from junction 4, Kingsway Interchange, in Stockport
Wed 08:0021mph
Measured about 200 m from junction 4, Kingsway Interchange, in Stockport
Fri 15:0024mph
Measured about 200 m from junction 4, Kingsway Interchange, in Stockport
Fri 16:0026mph
Measured about 200 m from junction 4, Kingsway Interchange, in Stockport
Thu 08:0026mph
Measured about 200 m from junction 4, Kingsway Interchange, in Stockport
Mon 08:0027mph
Measured about 200 m from junction 4, Kingsway Interchange, in Stockport
Each hour is compared with that sensor’s own free-flow speed rather than the speed limit, because some sensors sit on bends and slip roads that never reach 70 mph. Quiet hours carrying under 600 vehicles are left out, so overnight roadworks are not mistaken for congestion.
Which direction is worse
Averaged along the whole roadEastboundWorst at Thu 16:0048 mph
WestboundWorst at Fri 10:0062 mph
Rush hour is rarely symmetrical. The commute in and the commute out peak at different times, and rarely as badly as each other. These speeds are averaged across every sensor facing that way, so they read higher than the worst-point figures above: most of the road is moving even when one junction is not.
Every hour of the week
Darker means slower| Day | 00 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 06 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | Mon 00:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Mon 01:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Mon 02:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Mon 03:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Mon 04:00, 63 mph, 2% below normal | Mon 05:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Mon 06:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Mon 07:00, 60 mph, 8% below normal | Mon 08:00, 57 mph, 14% below normal | Mon 09:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal | Mon 10:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Mon 11:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Mon 12:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Mon 13:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Mon 14:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Mon 15:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Mon 16:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal | Mon 17:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Mon 18:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal | Mon 19:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Mon 20:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Mon 21:00, 59 mph, 11% below normal | Mon 22:00, 57 mph, 14% below normal | Mon 23:00, 56 mph, 16% below normal |
| Tue | Tue 00:00, 56 mph, 15% below normal | Tue 01:00, 57 mph, 13% below normal | Tue 02:00, 63 mph, 6% below normal | Tue 03:00, 63 mph, 6% below normal | Tue 04:00, 65 mph, 4% below normal | Tue 05:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Tue 06:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Tue 07:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Tue 08:00, 56 mph, 16% below normal | Tue 09:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal | Tue 10:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Tue 11:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Tue 12:00, 62 mph, 4% below normal | Tue 13:00, 62 mph, 4% below normal | Tue 14:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Tue 15:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Tue 16:00, 55 mph, 17% below normal | Tue 17:00, 56 mph, 15% below normal | Tue 18:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Tue 19:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Tue 20:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Tue 21:00, 59 mph, 11% below normal | Tue 22:00, 57 mph, 14% below normal | Tue 23:00, 58 mph, 12% below normal |
| Wed | Wed 00:00, 57 mph, 13% below normal | Wed 01:00, 59 mph, 11% below normal | Wed 02:00, 63 mph, 7% below normal | Wed 03:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal | Wed 04:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Wed 05:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Wed 06:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Wed 07:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Wed 08:00, 55 mph, 18% below normal | Wed 09:00, 58 mph, 13% below normal | Wed 10:00, 60 mph, 7% below normal | Wed 11:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Wed 12:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Wed 13:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Wed 14:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Wed 15:00, 61 mph, 6% below normal | Wed 16:00, 55 mph, 17% below normal | Wed 17:00, 56 mph, 15% below normal | Wed 18:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Wed 19:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Wed 20:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Wed 21:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Wed 22:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal | Wed 23:00, 58 mph, 11% below normal |
| Thu | Thu 00:00, 56 mph, 15% below normal | Thu 01:00, 57 mph, 13% below normal | Thu 02:00, 63 mph, 6% below normal | Thu 03:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Thu 04:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Thu 05:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Thu 06:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Thu 07:00, 60 mph, 8% below normal | Thu 08:00, 57 mph, 13% below normal | Thu 09:00, 59 mph, 9% below normal | Thu 10:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal | Thu 11:00, 61 mph, 6% below normal | Thu 12:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Thu 13:00, 60 mph, 8% below normal | Thu 14:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal | Thu 15:00, 55 mph, 17% below normal | Thu 16:00, 48 mph, 28% below normal | Thu 17:00, 53 mph, 20% below normal | Thu 18:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal | Thu 19:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Thu 20:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Thu 21:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal | Thu 22:00, 57 mph, 13% below normal | Thu 23:00, 57 mph, 13% below normal |
| Fri | Fri 00:00, 56 mph, 16% below normal | Fri 01:00, 55 mph, 16% below normal | Fri 02:00, 64 mph, 5% below normal | Fri 03:00, 64 mph, 5% below normal | Fri 04:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Fri 05:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Fri 06:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Fri 07:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Fri 08:00, 62 mph, 4% below normal | Fri 09:00, 62 mph, 6% below normal | Fri 10:00, 60 mph, 7% below normal | Fri 11:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Fri 12:00, 60 mph, 9% below normal | Fri 13:00, 59 mph, 11% below normal | Fri 14:00, 56 mph, 14% below normal | Fri 15:00, 52 mph, 21% below normal | Fri 16:00, 53 mph, 20% below normal | Fri 17:00, 57 mph, 14% below normal | Fri 18:00, 61 mph, 6% below normal | Fri 19:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Fri 20:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Fri 21:00, 61 mph, 7% below normal | Fri 22:00, 59 mph, 9% below normal | Fri 23:00, 58 mph, 12% below normal |
| Sat | Sat 00:00, 55 mph, 17% below normal | Sat 01:00, 64 mph, 5% below normal | Sat 02:00, 64 mph, 5% below normal | Sat 03:00, 59 mph, 10% below normal | Sat 04:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Sat 05:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sat 06:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sat 07:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sat 08:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Sat 09:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Sat 10:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sat 11:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Sat 12:00, 61 mph, 8% below normal | Sat 13:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Sat 14:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sat 15:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sat 16:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sat 17:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal | Sat 18:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sat 19:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sat 20:00, 64 mph, 1% below normal | Sat 21:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sat 22:00, 62 mph, 5% below normal | Sat 23:00, 62 mph, 4% below normal |
| Sun | Sun 00:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Sun 01:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Sun 02:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Sun 03:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Sun 04:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sun 05:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sun 06:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sun 07:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sun 08:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal | Sun 09:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal | Sun 10:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sun 11:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Sun 12:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Sun 13:00, 63 mph, 4% below normal | Sun 14:00, 64 mph, 3% below normal | Sun 15:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Sun 16:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sun 17:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal | Sun 18:00, 65 mph, 1% below normal | Sun 19:00, 65 mph, 0% below normal | Sun 20:00, 65 mph, -1% below normal | Sun 21:00, 64 mph, 2% below normal | Sun 22:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal | Sun 23:00, 63 mph, 3% below normal |
Roads that meet the M56
Their roadworks and closuresQuestions about the M56
Is the M56 closed right now?
5 closures were in force at our last check of the National Highways feed (1:38am today, UK time): M56 Eastbound Lanes 2 and 3 closure (MP 22/0 to 20/1); M56 Westbound Jct 9 exit slip road hardshoulder closure; and M56 Eastbound Jct 6 to 4 hardshoulder closure, plus 2 more. This covers planned roadworks and lane closures, not accidents.
Is the M56 closed tonight?
National Highways has 10 closures booked on the M56 in the next 24 hours, the first due from 8pm, so it may already be in place: M56 Westbound Jct 12 entry slip road Lane 1 closure; M56 Eastbound Lanes 2 and 3 closure (MP 22/0 to 20/1); and M56 eastbound hard shoulder and lanes 1 and 2 closure (MP 24/4 to 20/5), plus 7 more. Plans can change on the night.
When will the roadworks on the M56 finish?
2 schemes lasting a week or more are listed. The first due to end is M56 Eastbound Jct 6 to 4 hardshoulder closure (11 Nov 2026); the last is M56 Eastbound hardshoulder closure (MP 56/3 to 56/0) (8 Jan 2027). End dates are National Highways’ own schedule and can move.